Kilauea Volcano in Hawaii Erupts, Sending Lava Skyward

In an impressive display of natural power, Hawaii's Kilauea volcano has erupted once more, propelling molten lava up to 500 feet into the atmosphere. The activity took place at the summit's sprawling crater and concluded late Tuesday night, releasing approximately 337 million cubic feet of lava during its 13-hour span.

Since December, this marks the 32nd instance of Kilauea's eruptive behavior, solidifying its status as one of Earth's most persistently active volcanoes.

The cascade of lava was largely confined within the summit crater at the Hawaii Volcanoes National Park, a vast, protected area devoid of habitation on Hawaii's Big Island.

Eruptive Details and Lava Flows

Lava first began spilling over from Kilauea's Halemaumau Crater's north vent at 6:30 a.m. Subsequently, additional outflows were observed from a southern vent and another intermediary vent. Within hours, several lava fountains were actively ejecting molten rock hundreds of feet high, echoing episodes from the volcano's late-fall activity last year.

Throughout the eruption, the U.S. Geological Survey noted colossal lava output, with fountains discharging an average of 6,750 cubic feet per second—equivalent to nearly filling five Olympic swimming pools every minute. By the eruption’s end, lava had glazed between 40% and 50% of the crater's floor. Officials caution that the lava may persist in slow advances over several coming days as it cools.

Potential Dangers and Environmental Effects

Fortunately, the eruption itself didn't result in any injuries. However, high concentrations of volcanic gases like sulfur dioxide are predicted to linger, potentially affecting areas downwind. Emanating about 55,000 tons of this toxic gas, Kilauea has once again contributed to the formation of volcanic smog—'vog'—which poses respiratory and other health risks when present in significant amounts in the air.

Closer to the eruption site, the U.S. Geological Survey has alerted the public to hazards such as volcanic glass strands and other debris, which can be distributed more than 10 miles from the eruption and have previously been found on major island highways.